New singles spotlight

Posted on by Edwin Arnaudin

No time to hear a full album? Give these standout singles by local artists a spin.

Alex Krug Combo, “My Best”

Tracked at Echo Mountain Recording, the latest release from the Asheville rockers finds Krug’s powerful vocals presiding over a bed of instrumental bliss. Along with Bill Berg’s driving drum beat, the string work of Kyle Samples (guitar) and Zack Page (upright bass) nicely complement each other, while lap steel maestro Jackson Dulaney contributes another memorable solo. Topping it off is the band’s newest member, Tina Collins (Tiny and Her Pony), on vocal harmony. avl.mx/aen

Y.E., “What Chu Mad For (Home Run)”

Local MC CJ Harrison’s moniker is short for Yung Energy and, true to form, the dozen tracks on his new album, Asheville’s Best Kept Secret, have vitality to spare. On the LP’s second track, Y.E brings his lyrical swagger (complete with the titular Barry Bonds reference) to a fiery beat rooted in a catchy piano sample and a bouncing bass line destined to give stereo systems a workout. avl.mx/aeq

Jesse Frizsell, “The King of Wishful Thinking”

The Asheville native spent the last year and a half writing and recording Americana/bluegrass songs for his new album, Back to Carolina. Capping off the collection of originals is a charming cover of British band Go West’s hit single, made popular by its use in the film Pretty Woman. Frizsell imbues the breakup song with confident vocals and mandolin and banjo picking, putting his own spin on a familiar track while firmly anchoring it to the rest of the record. Look for the full project on Friday, Oct. 1. avl.mx/aep

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin
View all posts by Edwin Arnaudin →

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